Second Place
General Excellence
B.C. and Yukon
<2,000 circulation
2012

JUBILEE MEDAL:
Former local resident
wins Queen’s medal with
his wife. See page A11
inside.

Blue Ribbon
Runner-up
Best All Round
Newspaper
All of Canada
<1,250 circulation
2012

TRU announces
World Heritage Year
for Wells Gray Park
September volcano tour to be first event
Thompson Rivers
University

Making a connection
Emma, a girl believed to be from Salmon Arm, pats the forehead of Juby, one of the horses that
enjoys the music at Serenity Center for the Performing Arts near Birch Island. Emma was taking
part in the fifth annual Becoming Shiloh gospel music camp the weekend before last. Between
150 and 200 people from throughout the southern Interior and the Lower Mainland took part. "The
music was exceptional this year, as was the weather," said one organizer.
Photo by Shirley DeVooght, Serenity Center

Next year the Wells Gray TRU
Wilderness Centre will open its doors
for outdoor learning and research in
the wilds of the Clearwater Valley. The
facilities are now under construction.
To celebrate this milestone event,
Tom Dickinson at Thompson Rivers
University and Upper Clearwater
resident Trevor Goward are teaming
up to host a yearlong series of guided
tours, hikes, field courses, lectures, and
children’s events - all on the theme of
wilderness research and learning in
the Clearwater Valley and Wells Gray
Provincial Park.
Wells Gray World Heritage Year
will run from September of this year
through October of 2013 inclusive.
Wells Gray World Heritage Year
will help to boost efforts by TRU to
create a viable learning and research
centre in the Clearwater Valley.
“As we step forward into a new era
of research and learning in Wells Gray,
this is a perfect time to take stock of
what we know about the Clearwater
Valley,” says TRU Dean of Science
Tom Dickinson.
“In the coming months we’ll be
telling stories about discoveries made
here by wildlife biologists, botanists,
geologists, some dating back to the
early 1950s. Starting next spring, we’ll
also have a discussion about the importance of wilderness in contemporary
society. Wells Gray World Heritage
Year is really a celebration of all wild
places wherever they’re found”.
Wells Gray World Heritage Year
takes its name from a governmentsupported initiative to put British
Columbia’s fourth largest park forward
as a candidate for a UNESCO World

Heritage Site. In the coming year
Dickinson and Goward hope to bring
British Columbians up to speed on the
tremendous geological, ecological and
wilderness values preserved in Wells
Gray.
“I’m really stoked about this,” says
Trevor Goward, a well-known naturalist and spokesperson for the Wells
Gray World Heritage Committee.
“The hardest thing about trying
to win international recognition for
Wells Gray is that inevitably you have
to work uphill. How many Canadians
know that Wells Gray Park is Canada’s
Valley of Fire and Ice - a place where
two million years of volcanic eruptions and Pleistocene glaciers have
bequeathed landforms otherwise seen
only in Iceland and a few remote corners of the world? Or who would have
guessed that a mid-latitude protected
area like Wells Gray preserves, in
some biological groups, the highest
levels of biodiversity anywhere on
Earth?
“Wells Gray World Heritage Year
is a great opportunity to get the message out,” Goward says. “It’s time
Canadians took the time to learn how
exceptional the Clearwater Valley really is. Upgrading Wells Gray to a World
Heritage Site will have profound
implications for the economic future
of surrounding communities. World
Heritage designation not only strengthens the tourism sector, it also catalyzes
economic development and regeneration, creates new funding opportunities, and stimulates private investment.
This effort can only be good news for
the people of southern inland British
Columbia”.
A schedule of Wells Gray World
Heritage Year events appears on page
A3.

First Fish Ceremony coming up next week
Everyone welcome to traditional event

Thompson Crossing
A New Beginning to Carefree Living

MODULAR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
Turn key & move in
Pursuing Strata

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TIMES STAFF
Don’t forget the First
Fish Ceremony coming up on Wednesday
afternoon, Aug. 29, says
Simpcw First Nation
council member Tina
Donald, one of the
event’s main organizers.
The annual event
will start at noon, when
salmon and other foods
will be put into a pit
oven next to the Raft
River viewing platform.

Hot rocks from a
fire will be placed in a
pit in the ground and
salmon and vegetables
will then be layered in
the pit with fir boughs,
Saskatoon branches,
rose hips, and grasses.
Once the food is in
the pit, there will be
Lahal and other traditional games for the
kids, knobbies, bannock
ball, storytelling, and
more to fill the afternoon.

of the ceremony is to
thank the Creator for
giving us the fish, for
bringing them back to
our area. In our tradition, when you are
given something, you
want to give something
back.”
The Raft River was
the site of a Simpcw
village from before
the Europeans arrived.
Members of the band
still harvest salmon
from its waters.

After around five
hours the meal will be
ready to eat. Everyone
will be welcome to
share and there will be
no charge.
However, donations
will be accepted and
will be used to help
with the cost of the
ceremony and to help
the Raft River salmon
interpretive school day
program in September.
According to
Donald, “The purpose

Star Festival gets big crowd and dark skies
Times Staff
Clear skies mean
a phenomenal view
of many astronomical phenomena during Clearwater’s sixth
Star Gazing Festival
on Thursday evening,
Aug. 9.
More than 150
people took part in
the event, organizers
report. Some were tourists from as far away
as Switzerland, others
were local residents.
Sights seen included
the Perseid meteor
shower (associated with
the comet Swift-Tuttle),
the Dumbbell Nebula,
the Hercules Globular
Cluster, the Andromeda
Galaxy and the Ring
Nebula.

Viewing was aided
by a 16” reflecting
telescope brought
by presenter Bill
Burnyeat, the community astronomer at the
H.R. Macmillan Space
Center.
Burnyeat entertained the crowd with
a discussion of stars,
planets and history. He
also involved the kids
attending in a “play”

based on mythology
and the stars.
Clearwater’s Ron
Van der Zwan and Keir
Murray of Calgary provided additional telescopes plus assistance
with viewing.
Success by 6 did a
kid’s craft table while
North Thompson
Ladies Drill Team provided concession and
parking.

Many other volunteers organized and
participated in the event
as well.
The new venue
at Trophy Mountain
Buffalo Ranch proved
to be near ideal, with
dark skies and plenty of
room to move around.
Mark Thursday Aug.
8 on calendar for the
seventh annual Star
Gazing Festival.

For the record: Terry Fox
Times Staff

Bill Burnyeat (l), the community astronomer at the H.R. Macmillan Space Center,
talks with Clearwater resident Ron Mascotto before the start of the Star Gazing
Festival on Aug. 9. Behind them is the 16” reflector Burnyeat brought with him.

An article titled The 32nd Annual
Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research
in our Aug. 13 issue said the Run
would take place on Sept. 16.
In fact, local organizers tell us this

year’s Run in Clearwater will be held
on Saturday, Sept. 22.
As in recent years, the starting
point will be the parking lot by the
Sportsplex and high school. The route
will be the same as in previous years
as well.

World Heritage tour schedule
Times Staff
Wells Gray World Heritage
Year will kick off on Saturday,
Sept. 1 with Dr. Cathie
Hickson, an internationally
respected volcanologist who
has peered into the craters of
volcanoes on six continents.
Join Hickson for a guided
bus and walking tour of
the volcanic history of the
Clearwater Valley. Meet at
the Wells Gray Infocenter in
Clearwater around 11 a.m. to
join those who traveled from
Kamloops (bus leaves TRU at
9:30 a.m.).
Scheduled stops will
include Spahats Falls, the
Clearwater Overlook (for a
bag lunch at noon), Green
Mountain, the Mushbowl
and Helmcken Falls, finishing at the Upper Clearwater
Community Hall around 5
p.m. Following a buffet dinner (to 6:30), Cathie will give
an illustrated talk finishing at
7:30. Scheduled arrival back in
Kamloops is 9:30p.m.
Five additional events will
be offered this autumn, with
more to follow next spring and
summer:
• Sunday, Sept. 9: Ring of
Clear Water: The Fishes of
Wells Gray

Join fisheries biologist
Steve Maricle for an outing to
glimpse the Chinook as they
attempt the rapids at Bailey’s
Chute.
• Sunday, Oct. 7: Mind of
the Deer: Pioneer Ways in
the Clearwater Valley
Well-known naturalist
Trevor Goward will lead an
afternoon hike along the original valley road from First to
Third Canyon. Come enjoy
the autumn colors and find
out about the forces that have
shaped the unique natural history of the Clearwater Valley
and Wells Gray Park.
• Sunday, Oct. 21: Pioneer
School Days
Ellen Ferguson, Clara
Ritcey and Hazel Wadlegger
spent happy childhoods in
the Upper Clearwater Valley
more than half a century ago.
Join them for tea at the Upper
Clearwater School for an
afternoon of reminiscences
of school days in a one-room
schoolhouse.
• Saturday, Nov. 10:
Exploring Wells Gray the
Way it Used to Be
Join raconteur Frank Ritcey
for a world premier showing
of More than Just Waterfalls
- a film about the Wells Gray
Park most people don’t know

“When you need us, we’re close by”
When a death occurs, I’m here to help you, every step of the way. 24 hours
a day, every day.
If you have made pre-arrangements elsewhere and would like to discuss
having your local funeral home take care of you, please feel free to call.

about. Ritcey is well known for
his quick wit and dry sense of
humor! Frank’s father is Ralph
Ritcey, whose name is synonymous with wildlife studies in
Wells Gray Park.
• Saturday, Nov. 17:
Bringing Wells Gray’s Past
Online
Are you a history buff? Do
you love wild places? Join us
this afternoon for a workbee
to transcribe some of the old
papers and wildlife reports
written on Wells Gray Park
half a century ago. Help us
kick start a new era of wildland research in the Clearwater
Valley by making the old
documents accessible online
as well as by generating an
online document suitable for
Wikipedia.
All programs are being
offered free of charge or by
donation. A charge of $45 ($70
from Kamloops) for Cathie
Hickson’s volcanoes tour on
Sept. 1 will cover bus rental,
bag lunch and dinner.
For more information or
to sign up, please contact Dr.
Tom Dickinson, Faculty of
Science, Thompson Rivers
University, Kamloops,
tdickinson@tru.ca or call
250.828.5400. Space is limited
so please register early.

What’s Happening
Upcoming Summer Events
August 20th-24th - Variety Sports Camp (6-12 year olds) Keep your kids active this summer! Each day will
feature a quick lesson on the basic skills of a different sport: floor hockey, soccer, tennis, basketball and
volleyball. The Camp will run from 10:00am – 3:00pm at the Rotary Sports Parks. Call Eleanor at
250.674.1878 to register or for more information.
August 21st & 28th – Family Canoe Lessons on Dutch Lake from 6:30-7:30pm is a great opportunity to
spend family time together while learning new skills. Equipment provided. Call Eleanor at 250.674.1878 to
register or more information.
August 29th– First Fish Ceremony at the Raft River Viewing Platform starting at noon with Simpcw First
Nation using their traditional method of cooking in a pit. They will layer rocks, grasses, Rose Hips,
Saskatoon branches, Douglas Fir boughs, Salmon and vegetables inside the pit and cover it up until the
cooking is complete which usually takes around five hours. There will be storytelling and Simpcw First
Nation traditional games throughout the afternoon. Dinner will be served at approximately 5:00pm by
donation.
September 7 & 8th – Canoe Regatta at Dutch Lake beach. Just as Wild – Just as Wacky! Friday night
includes the Kid’s Try the Tri, Beach Jamboree and Crowning of the Golden Girl along with the popular
Scavenger Hunt and Saturday is a fun filled day of canoe races and other favourites along with new events
such as the Gladiator Olympic Relay and Soap Box Derby. The winner of the Dutch Lake Park Concept
Plan will be announced in the afternoon. A Wild and Wacky Weekend at the beach for everyone to enjoy!
Come one! Come all!
Saturday Community Bus
Don’t forget to take this summer opportunity to use the Saturday Community Bus for FREE!
The District of Clearwater is sponsoring a Saturday Community Bus pilot project from July 7th to August 25th.
This bus is intended to enable residents the opportunity to attend local summer events such as the Farmers’
Market, spending a day at Dutch Lake beach or other summer activities.
The Saturday Community Bus is for anyone in the community to use and is FREE of Charge.
2012 Dutch Lake Park Design Competition
The applicants for the 2012 Dutch Lake Park Design Competition have delivered their plans and concepts
for Council to view. They will be presenting their ideas to Council on August 21st. The winner will be
announced on September 8th at the Canoe Regatta.
Upcoming Events
August 7-24, 2012 – Kids Summer Fun Days
August 29, 2012 – First Fish Ceremony at Raft River Viewing Platform
September 7 & 8 – Canoe Regatta
Upcoming Meetings of Council
August 21st 2012 – Finance and Audit Committee meeting – 5:00pm
August 21st, 2012 – Regular Council meeting – 7:00pm.

“ People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because
they don't know when to quit” - George Allen, football coach
editorial by keith mcNeill

Dyer’s optimism about Arctic
undervalues global warming

Group gives reminder about
Community Spirit Calendars
Editor, The Times:
It is time to prepare for 2013. The
Clearwater Festival
and Events Committee
(CFES) is once again
engaged in the annual
fundraiser and production of the Community
Spirit Calendar.
To get involved you
need to either sign
up when you see our
setup in the shopping
center or drop in at
the North Thompson
Aboriginal Sharing
Centre (located next
to the Community
Resource Center building beside Raft River

Elementary School).
This calendar features the birthdays,
anniversaries and
memorial dates of all
family members who
take part. It also features meeting dates
and times for the many
and varied clubs and
organizations in the
community.
The top of the
calendar is a handy
reference to find phone
numbers. By purchasing a calendar you
support the community
and you get a handy
reference for community and personal

BC Press Council
The Times is a member of the British Columbia
Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the
province’s newspaper industry. The council considers
complaints from the public about the conduct of member
newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of
complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the
complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher
does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story
treatment, you may contact the BC Press Council.
Your written concern, with documentation, should be

www.clearwatertimes.com
Established September 23, 1964
Member, BC Press Council

information at the
same time.
Our theme is
Family Fun in the
North Thompson.
If you would like to
submit a picture that
might be the feature
photo, you are welcome to drop it off at
the Aboriginal Center.
This past year
CFES volunteers and
funds have been active
within the community,
supporting events such
as the recent Canada
Day celebrations.
We are a platinum
sponsor of the Canoe
Regatta and we have
supported events
such as the recent
Children’s Festival.
We are all about
supporting family events and can be
reached by writing to
Box 233, Clearwater,
B.C. V0E IN0.
For more information, phone Cheryl
Thomas 250-674-3260
or Cindy Wilgosh at
674-2939

Cheryl Thomas
Clearwater, B.C.

Well-known Canadian writer Gwynne Dyer is
not often accused of excessive optimism.
The column by him that ran in last week’s
Times under the headline “Race for Arctic resources waste of effort” might be an exception, however.
In the column, Dyer argued that fears about
military conflicts developing in the Arctic were
“nonsense.”
He does mention at the end that the ice is melting, which will speed global warming and in turn
raise world sea levels by seven meters.
“But that’s a problem for another day,” he wrote.
Actually, global warming is not a problem for
another day. It’s happening now and, if it’s allowed
to continue, one of the few places on Earth that will
continue to be habitable will be the Arctic.
What would the world look like if we allow
global warming to continue? Scientist James
Lovelock in his book, “The Revenge of Gaia”
included three maps (Penguin 2007 edition, pg.
81).
One shows the Earth as it is today. Most of the
rest of the land surface is forest. Areas of scrub and
desert are largely confined to southwestern North
America, northern Africa, southwest Asia, and
much of Australia.
The second map shows the world if temperatures increase by 5C, as predicted by IPCC for the
end of this century. Pretty well the only forest is

confined to a narrow strip around the Arctic Ocean,
plus other smaller tracts in the Himalayas and on
islands such as Great Britain. Nearly all the continents would be scrub and desert.
Lovelock’s map is just a rough approximation,
but it does underline the importance of the Arctic in
a future world dominated by climate change.
How will Russia retain control of Siberia when
hundreds of thousands of hectares of what is now
taiga become arable land - at the same time as
millions of hectares of what is now arable land in
China become desert?
How will Canada, with 34 million people,
defend itself when 310 million Americans start
to move north - closely followed by millions of
Mexicans and Central Americans?
Dyer’s optimistic view about peace in the Arctic
is a bit ironic. His book, “Climate Wars,” reportedly is the one of the first with an in-depth analysis
of how climate change will affect global security.
No doubt, if he had more room to write, he would
have qualified his statements with a more long-term
view.
Incidentally, Dyer has given the Times several of
his columns to run without charge. Before we sign
up to start paying for them, we’d like to hear some
feedback from readers about whether they find them
worthwhile. They certainly are thought provoking.

Letters

Pesticide worries overblown
Editor, The Times:
Re: The dirt on organic fruits
and vegetables, Aug. 13 issue
I agree with a recent column
in the North Thompson Times
that whether the food you eat is
grown conventionally or organically, the most important thing
is that you get the daily intake
that’s recommended by Health
Canada.
However, the column did contain some misinformation that I
would like to correct.
Canada has one of the most
modern and stringent pesticide
regulatory systems in the world.
This means that whether
the food you eat is grown conventionally or organically, it is
among the safest food available
anywhere.
Both organic and conventionally grown foods use an array

of pesticides that have all been
approved by Health Canada to
control threats to their crops. No
matter how your food is grown,
what you should be more concerned about is how your food
was handled before you bought
it.
Bacterial contamination is
an actual and significant health
threat.
When it comes to pesticide residues on food, recent
data from the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency shows that
about 88 per cent of all fresh
food items and 90 per cent of
processed food items contain no
traces of pesticides at all. And in
instances where trace amounts
of pesticides are found on food,
they are at such low levels it is
impossible to imagine a way to
eat enough of it for there to be

any harmful impact whatsoever.
Consumers can be assured
that pesticides receive a greater
breadth of scrutiny than any
other regulated product in
Canada. Health Canada, which
is one of the most respected
regulatory agencies in the world,
undertakes a thorough scientific
review and risk assessment of
every pesticide before registering it for use to ensure it does
not pose a health risk to farmers
using the products or to families
at the dinner table.
Canadians should feel confident about making healthy food
choices knowing that our food
supply is both safe and affordable.

Editor, The Times:
Thank you to the people who administered
first aid and provided help during the tragic
incident at Brookfield Mall on Aug. 11.

A Clearwater resident

Time to track crooks
Editor, The Times:
It is unfortunate that we hear too often youth
gangs shooting each other and killing innocent
bystanders. When this occurs, we always hear the
call for the banning of firearms from politicians at
all levels.
The reality is that gangs do not register their
firearms and will always have them. Criminals do
not follow the laws of the land. These gang members do not worry about having to have a license to
own or carry their illegals handguns.
It has been proven by study that almost all of
the handguns used by criminals are either stolen or
illegally brought into this country from the United
States. In fact, more people are stabbed and killed
by knives than shot by firearms. We don’t hear any
politician calling for a ban on your steak knife.
Banning of firearms makes all law-abiding citizens even bigger targets for criminals. Something
is wrong in Canada when a law-abiding citizen
doesn’t have the right to defend his life, his property, and the lives of his family.
The legal system is out of balance on the side of
the criminal. The prisons have become a revolving
door exercise.
Instead of calling for the registrations of guns,
the politicians should call for the registration and
tracking of all criminals at every age. If vehicles
can be tracked, so too can criminals.

Inky Mark
Dauphin, Manitoba
Letters Policy
The Times welcomes all letters to the editor. We do, however, reserve the right to edit for
brevity, clarity, legality and good taste.
While all letters must be signed (and have
a telephone number for verification purposes)
upon submission, writers may elect to withhold
their names from publication in special circumstances.

While the majority
of public and political attention in British
Columbia is focused on
the Northern Gateway
project and Kinder
Morgan’s twinning the
Transmountain Pipeline,
railcar shipments are
increasing dramatically.
In an effort to satisfy
customer needs, oil
producers and rail companies are turning their
attention to rail shipment of products from
our oil rich neighbour,
Alberta.
Much of it will
head to southern U.S.
refineries but some of
it will surely find its
way to U.S. west coast
refineries. Enbridge`s
Northern Gateway is
years away, if ever.
Kinder Morgan’s existing Transmountain
Pipeline is at or near
capacity.
Transmountain
Pipeline it is currently
the most economical
(and safest) way to
move oil and gas products through Canada to
the west coast of North
America. With new
Asian customers put-

ting capacity demand
on the pipeline, it seems
inevitable that more and
more of those products
will find their way
into railcar tankers. In
2009 Canadian Pacific
moved 500 carloads, by
2014 Canadian Pacific
expects to be moving
7,000 carloads, equivalent to 100,000 barrels per day. Canadian
National is open for
business also: www.
cn.ca/en/shipping-northamerica-crude-by-rail.
htm
Railway companies
historically have had
poor safety records
when it comes to keeping the wheels on track:
www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/
stats/rail/2010/ss10.
pdf. Enbridge`s recent
crisis management in
the United States and its
reaction and administration of those situations
were deplorable.
It will be very hard
for Enbridge to convince the public that it
is a reliable provider of
pipeline service in B.C.
Public opinion says
no to oil anywhere
on the west coast of
Canada. Reality - oil

production in western
Canada is going to proceed.
We have invested
billions of tax dollars
on the infrastructure to
accommodate carbon
fuel technology. Most
of those tax dollars
were left in the Lower
Mainland while the rest
of the Province suffered
the worst economic crisis in memory.
Now, when economic opportunity
might befall the Interior
communities from
the construction and
maintenance of a pipeline, the majority of
power from the Lower
Mainland is in opposition. For irony, ask the
people who have to put
up with the stench of
the Cache Creek landfill
as the air cools in the
evening along the val-

leys of the Thompson
River between Cache
Creek and Kamloops.
Oil is going to reach
the west coast, be it
by pipeline or railcar
tanker. No entity wants
an oil-related crisis,
but acts of nature and
human error are going
to challenge every
effort.
It’s in everyone’s
interest to find the balance that will allow
society to move forward
and protect our environment at the same time.
It can be done. A per
barrel levy charged to
transporters of oil might
be the most reasonable.
Precautionary measures, especially in
critical areas, need to be
installed, inspected and
maintained to the highest standards. Critical
response, support and

administration could be
funded by that levy.
Cost per barrel of
oil for transmission
through a pipeline is
typically considered to
around $5. Transport
by railway tanker is
considered to cost $10
- $12 per barrel. A portion of that difference
applied to an oil transportation levy would
seem to be a reasonable
solution.
Would we rather
have 600,000 barrels
transported in a pipe
with the best technology available controlling
the process, or 100,000
barrels on rolling stock
clattering along the railways that follow every
major river in the province? Pick your poison.

Hosted by The District of Clearwater

TONS of Fun at Dutch Lake!
Friday Evening and Saturday

September 7&8, 2012
www.ClearwaterCanoeRegatta.com

Bob MacCuish
Vavenby, B.C.

$

25

PER

FAMILY,
TEAMor
COUPLE*

$15 SINGLE

Thank You
2012
Mike and Darcy of M.Glueck Mechanical Ltd.
would like to say a huge Thank you to all
their customers for their support and
business over the past 5 years! We would
also like to thank everyone especially the
friends we have made here in Clearwater for
making our time here unforgettable! We will
miss everyone dearly!
Love Mike, Darcy, Ryan, Connor and Hannah

“Regatta Guy”

Just as Wild – Just as Wacky!
How Do I Register? In Person: District of Clearwater, 132 Station Road | or by
phone: 250.674.2257 | or by fax 250.674.2173
ALL Participants MUST sign a waiver. Life jackets are mandatory in canoe and
kayak races and bike helmets in biking events. Sense of humour also essential.
Entry Forms also available on the web www.ClearwaterCanoeRegatta.com

A10 www.starjournal.net
A6 www.clearwatertimes.com

Monday, August 20, 2012 North Thompson Star/Journal
Monday, August 20, 2012 Clearwater Times

30 years of whitewater rafting on the Clearwater
By Elli Kohnert
A pristine wilderness area
with a wild river thundering
through rugged canyons was
the combination that drew
Clearwater’s Doug Trotter to
follow a dream that started
in 1979.
Trotter has kayaked and
guided extensively in Canada
and throughout the world and
is a true ‘river person’.
His dream was realized
when he founded Interior
Whitewater Expeditions in
1983, and now, 30 years later
Trotter still maintains his
enthusiasm for this wilderness, and says he has an especially close connection to the
wild waters of the Clearwater
River in Wells Gray Park.
Trotter says that much
has changed from Interior
Whitewater’s early beginnings; back then the company
owned only one raft plus necessary transport and operating
equipment. Today the company employs 22 individuals,
owns a number of rafts, and
also has a variety of watercrafts that offer different river
experiences for the public.
Trotter notes the biggest
challenge he faced when
first operating his rafting
enterprise was, and still is,
the Clearwater River Road,
which is the only access to
the river. Originally it was a
Forestry road built along the
river through steep high rocky
terrain, only wide enough to
accommodate one-way traffic, with pull out areas to get
past oncoming vehicles. Over
the years, road maintenance
continued to be a complicated
situation, where Forestry, and
Wells Gray Park continuously
changed road maintenance
operations, with Trotter’s business being involved.
“We needed the access and
we worked out an agreement

Interior Whitewater
Expeditions founder and
owner stands on the banks
of the Clearwater River,
looking for the day’s raft trip
that is due to appear; something he has been doing for
30 years.

when we had to do so,” said
Trotter, “But the road itself
was a huge challenge.”
Due to the terrain that the
road traversed through, slides
occurred frequently; and
when that happened, Interior
Whitewater had to clear them.
Trotter recalls that in one
instance there was a big washout that left a large hole, thus
closing the road.
“We needed to get the road
repaired right away,” said Trotter,
“We could not wait for help.”
Fortunately a logging company from Merritt offered
assistance, and travelled
through the night to get to the
site and help open the road.
Trotter says that when the
highboy trailer that was loaded
on a truck arrived at the site,
heavy equipment and determined men placed it across
the hole and the road was
open once again.
“Our bridge lasted all that
summer,” said Trotter, “And
we were able to access the
river again – rafting was able
to go on as usual.”
He says that the Wells Gray
Park boundaries were extended to include the Clearwater

River and the road; and the use
of it by Interior Whitewater
has worked out to the satisfaction of both parties; thus
allowing whitewater rafting to
continue as it has for a long
time.
Over the past 30 years
Trotter has been true to his
company; committed to
extending his own levels of
excellence and enjoyment of
river rafting to all his clients.
The company is one of the
original members of the BC
River Outfitters Association
and touted as one of the most
experienced rafting companies in British Columbia.
Interior Whitewater was
recently awarded a prestigious
place amongst the members
of the Canadian Tourism
Commission’s
Signature
Experiences Collection –
once in a lifetime remarkable
travel experiences in Canada.
Trotter says they are one of
only two rafting companies in
all of Canada to be accepted
into the Collection.
This reporter attended
one of Interior Whitewater’s
rafting trips recently from
the river bank only, where
the rafters had gathered. A
tourist from Switzerland who
was participating in the expedition commented, “We are
here with a group including
a young boy; none of us have
ever done this before and we
are so exited – but maybe a
little scared too. This river
looks so powerful, the crashing rapids, and rushing water,
it is so beautiful. We started
our trip in a quiet backwater,
but first we had to take a short
course about safety and how
to act in an emergency, which
included that each of us had
to fall off the raft, and learn
how to get back on properly.
Our guides are patient, and
friendly, and made us feel safe
and confident. I am sure we

Submitted photo: IWE

STAR/JOURNAL photo: Elli Kohnert

(Top) The first Interior Whitewater Expeditions raft trip on the Clearwater River in 1984. Note the
rafters gear at that time did not require helmets be worn.
(Above) Today’s rafters are required to wear no undergarments made of cotton (does not promote
warmth), wear wet suits, life jackets and helmets.

will remember this adventure
for a very long time.”
When asked about his
plans for the future of Interior
Whitewater now that he has

CLEARWATER
Terry Lake,
MLA
COUNTRY

Kamloops - North Thompson

30 years of the Clearwater
River under his belt, Trotter
responded, “I want to continue
our rafting business – it’s a
great adventure. That’s what

I have heard over and over
when people walk through
our office. This is the best
thing we have ever done in
our life.”

Proud supporter
of the
Proud supporter
of the
North Thompson Star/Journal Monday, June 18, 2012

The small settlement of Vavenby is
home to Ecki Manthei,
a gifted artist who‘s
artwork grows out
of his connection to
nature, and his drive to
follow every new idea
with a passion that
moves him to create
what is in his imagination, without delay.
Ecki’s home stands
out from all others in
the Vavenby trailer
park where it cannot
be missed. Two large

Canada, and eventually came to live in
Cloverdale, B.C. It is
there that he began his
artistic career.
Seashells were his
medium then, tells
Ecki as he explains
how they lend themselves to be made into
clocks for instance, or
be used as a canvas for
his paintings.
When the couple
eventually
settled
in the community of
Vavenby, it is here that
Ecki took on art as his
life work.
Ecki has transformed one room of

carve on it!”
He notes that nearly all the materials he
uses in his creations
are natural; giving the
artwork its special
character.
Sometimes a person may come into the
gallery to view Ecki’s
work, and they may
purchase a special item
of art for their own
home. Most of the
time though, Ecki and
Marilyn market the art
work by taking part in
craft fairs.
“At some I do well,
with others I do not,”
commented the art-

email: terry.lake.mla@leg.bc.ca •

ist on selling his work
through craft fairs.
The couple say they
have a few tentative
ideas in mind for marketing; such as going
on the road to sell their
creations. But right
now, they have no
immediate plans that
they want to follow.
“We like it here
in Vavenby,” says Ecki,
“We feel comfortable
around here, and we
do enjoy to be with the
friends we have made
in the area. For now,
‘Ecki’s Art’ will have
its home in the North
Thompson Valley .”

www.clearwatercountryinnandrvpark.com

Clearwater Times Monday, August 20, 2012

www.clearwatertimes.com A7

Kelowna attack injures
two Clearwater youths
Times Staff
Two young men from
Clearwater, Liam Dhillon and
Jesse Akers, were assaulted in an
incident in Kelowna on the August
long weekend.
The two young men were in
Kelowna to participate in the
Center of Gravity event (formerly
known as Wakefest). They accidentally got on the wrong bus
back to their motel and, rather than
take a long bus ride back, decided
to take a shortcut through downtown when they were assaulted.
The six men who attacked
them appeared to be well experienced. They let the two Clearwater
youths walk past them, and then
came at them from behind.
Liam saw a fist coming at him
from the corner of his eye. He
was able to turn and land one of
his own in the face of the attacker.
Then received a few more punches

to the face from the other men.
Jesse also was involved. He
was quickly punched and knocked
down and then kicked in the face.
Three young women witnessed
the attack and one called 911 for
an ambulance.
The group of assailants reportedly walked calmly away after
doing their work.
The RCMP interviewed the two
young men but when their parents
tried to find out how the investigation was going, they were unable
to get any clear answers.
In frustration, two of them, Bob
Dhillon and Donna Akers, wrote a
letter to the editor of the Kelowna
Capital News.
Although the letter appeared
to criticize the RCMP, that had
not been their intent, said Donna
Akers. In fact, what they wanted
to do was to encourage the police
and to get anyone who witnessed
the assault to come forward.

Jesse appeared to have been the
more seriously injured of the two.
He had surgery on Thursday Aug.
9, four days after the incident - after
spending several days without being
able to eat, in case they could fit
him in. Two plates were inserted
in his cheek, as the cheekbone was
shattered in six pieces.
“Today is day five after the
surgery,” Donna Akers said on
Tuesday. “The swelling is going
down a little each day and the
bruising is starting to fade. He is
looking a little better and feeling a
little better each day.
“His vision is still blurry and
half of his face is still numb, which
may take up to three months to
come back (85 per cent chance), so
our fingers are crossed that he fully
recovers!”
Liam requires dental work, and
possibly will lose some teeth.
Members of their families would
like to limit further media attention.

Rednecks receive help from Insight
Submitted
Rodeo Rednecks 4-H
Club just came home
from a four-day show
in Salmon Arm called
Summer Sizzler put on
by the 4-H clubs in that
city.
Club members experienced three days of
lessons from assigned
instructors who were
brought in from all over
the B.C. Interior. Our
members competed
against those from many
other clubs on Sunday
in the horse show. They
brought home many
ribbons and lots of free
swag donated to the
event.
We are selling
Gary’s Meats again
this year. You can order
through any one of our
4-H members. Orders
close Sunday, Aug. 26
and will be delivered
Thursday, Sept. 6. We
are selling Ukrainian
garlic sausage, pepperoni sausage, Bavarian
smokies and cheese
smokies. Please contact Dani Noble if you
have any questions
at 250-674-8591 or
daninoble1(at)gmail.
com.
Other upcoming
events include the club’s
Achievement Day on
Aug. 26 at the Noble
Quarter Horse Farm,
415 Sunshine Valley
Road. Community

Hailey Jones (l) of
Clearwater Food
Bank accepts
juice boxes from
Clearwater-Vavenby
Lions rep Sherry
Joubert recently.
With school about
to start again,
the Food Bank is
making available
to all Kindergarten
students free
backpacks with
water bottles, lunch
boxes, pencil cases,
nutrition materials
and some school
supplies.

SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 73
(KAMLOOPS/THOMPSON)
WELCOMES STUDENTS
NEW TO THE DISTRICT

REGISTRATION OF NEW STUDENTS
Registration of pupils NEW TO THE DISTRICT AND BEGINNERS who have not yet been
registered for the school term commencing Tuesday, September 4, 2012 will take place at
district schools on Tuesday, August 28th and Wednesday, August 29th at 9:00 a.m. to 12:00
noon and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Members of Rodeo Rednecks 4-H Club (l-r) Jackie Johnson (club parent),
Jessica Rotzetter, Indigo Johnson, Cherie Witts, Kaylee Hudema and Emily
Talbot accept a cheque from Rhonda and Scott Kershaw of Insight Tire and Auto
for helping out at the lunch counter during the business’ recent official opening
of its Clearwater operation. Photo submitted
members are welcome
to come and see how are
club is doing. Members
will be competing
against each other in a
mini show that prepares
them for Provincial
Winter Fair. Food and
drinks will be available.

On Sept. 21 - 24
the club will be in
Barriere for its yearend
- the Provincial Winter
Fair. This is where the
Kamloops District clubs
join and compete against
each other in many different projects.

DINNER IS ON ME I will buy you a $100
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DEARBORN FORD
Jody Gyger
CELL 250-571-9609
Tel 250-372-7101

2555 East Trans Canada Hwy - Kamloops

HOME TOWN girl with HOME TOWN service

Serious Issues require
Serious Lawyers

ICBC Claims
Family Law
Real Estate
250-674-2255
or

1-888-374-3161
Jim McCreight is
on location in the
Interior Savings
Insurance office
every Wednesday.

www.mjblaw.com

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
All elementary and secondary classes will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday,
Sept. 4, 2012, with the exception of Kindergarten students. Please contact your child’s school
for Kindergarten speciﬁcs. Other exceptions are as follows, but please check school websites
or contact individual schools for further details:
Brocklehurst Middle School: Classes will begin at 10:30 am on Tuesday, September 4th
for Grade 7 and Leadership students only. Wednesday, September 5th, 8:30 am start for all
students at Brocklehurst Middle School.
Westwold Elementary School: New students may register at Westwold Elementary School on
Tuesday, September 4th, or at R.L. Clemitson Elementary on Aug. 28th or Aug. 29th, 2012.
All elementary schools (rural and in-town) will dismiss students at 12:00 noon.
Secondary in-town schools will dismiss students at 3:00 p.m.
Rural secondary schools will dismiss students at 12:30 p.m.

BUSING
On Tuesday, September 4th, buses will pick up students 2 hours later than normal for the 10:30
am start, and deliver elementary students home approximately 2 hours earlier than normal.
Regular afternoon bus schedules will apply for in-town secondary students.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES – ELEMENTARY
School supplies (pencils, notebooks, etc.) are available at a minimum cost through your child’s school.

TRANSPORTATION
School bus walk limit policy to schools and buses in effect in all areas of the School District:
Primary students, K to Grade 3-4 km. to a school and 3.2 km. to a bus stop.
All other students, Grade 4 to 12-4.8 km. to a school and 3.2 km. to a bus stop.
Students should register for transportation within the ﬁrst week of school to ensure a school
bus ride for the 2012-2013 school year.
All bus schedules are subject to changes in the course of the school year as a result of trafﬁc
patterns, weather conditions and population density.
For further information on bus routes and schedules, please contact the School District
Transportation Department at (250) 372-5853.
For Clearwater school bus schedules, please call (250) 674-3224.

A8 www.clearwatertimes.com

Monday, August 20, 2012 Clearwater Times

Committee recommends
to increase timber supply

Movie night entertains

VICTORIA - The Special Committee on
Timber Supply released its unanimous report on
Wednesday with 22 recommendations to increase
the supply and value of mid-term timber and to
strengthen future forest management in the B.C.
Central Interior.
This region of the province has been hit hard by
the current mountain pine beetle epidemic that has
killed 53 per cent of the total pine volume on the
timber harvesting land base.
The committee held public hearings in 15
Interior communities and Vancouver, and received
input from First Nations, local government, key
stakeholders and the public. During its six-week
consultation period, the committee received 650
submissions.
To view the report, visit the committee’s website
at: www.leg.bc.ca/timbercommittee/

Members of the Thomas family, the VIP winners
at the Moonlight Movie Night sponsored by
Interior Savings Credit Union on Sunday, Aug.
12, try out the inflatable couches they got to use
during the movie. They also got Interior Savings
blankets to take home afterwards. Pictured are
(l-r) Parker, Scott, Krista and Harrison. They
won their VIP tickets through a contest on the
Interior Savings website. A small but enthusiastic
crowd turned out to watch The Lorax on an
inflatable screen set up on the field at Clearwater
Secondary School. Proceeds from the gate go to
Clearwater Minor Hockey. Clearwater Secondary
School PAC provided the concession.
Photo submitted

Aug. 23 will mark 30
years since six members
of the Johnson-Bentley
family were murdered,
and one month until
Arishenkoff will read
her victim impact statement at their killer’s
parole hearing.
“It’s going to be
unpleasant,” she said, of
going to the hearing for
David William Ennis,
or as he was previously
known, David Shearing.
“I’ve been looking at
his picture trying to get
ready.”
Delving into the
dark memories of that
time and facing Ennis
is daunting, she said,

but she felt compelled
to take on the task for a
number of reasons.
For one, she feels
like it’s her responsibility to speak for her
murdered childhood
friends Janet and Karen
Johnson, even if it
means facing down the
man who killed them.
Arishenkoff also
wants to support their
surviving family members, who have been
forced to face down
Ennis and relive their
pain whenever a parole
hearing is held.
“Or maybe it’s
because I just remember the devastation of

1982,” she said.
“It’s a moment frozen in time that none of
us connected will ever
forget. This man is evil
and I want my friend
and her family to have
some peace. We can’t
forget.”
At 53, Ennis has been
in jail for more than half
his life, yet, according to
his parole records, said
Arishenkoff, he hasn’t
taken any meaningful
efforts to facilitate his
rehabilitation.
Knowing that he’s
young enough to kill
again, said Arishenkoff,
is he should stay behind
bars and the response

HOURS
Tuesday - Saturday 11 AM - 8PM &
Sunday 12 noon - 8 PM
CASH & CARRY ONLY
257 Glen Road - next to Clearwater Legion
The Employment Program of British Columbia is funded by
The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

she’s had from the community supports her.
In just a couple
months, a Kelowna petition drive rounded up
8,000 signatures.
“I don’t have any
idea what’s been submitted (to the parole
board) from other locations from around the
country,” she said.
Dozens of victim
impact letters were also
submitted.
“The community
effort has really restored
my faith in humankind,”
she said.
And that knowledge is what will fuel
her when she has to
read aloud how Ennis
changed her life and
her community.
The Johnson-Bentley
families didn’t return
from their camping vacation in the
Clearwater area in late
August, 1982.
A few weeks later
their scorched remains
were found inside the
Johnsons’ burned-out
car, which was hidden
in a wooded area.
Police launched a
massive investigation,
pursuing thousands of
tips. In late October
1983, forestry workers happened upon the
Bentleys’ truck and
camper.
Further investigation led to Shearing,
whose 1984 confession described how he
stalked the family in
the 24 hours before the
murder.
He claimed to kill
the four adults as they
sat around the campfire
and told investigators
he shot the two children
moments later. In fact,
the girls were kept alive
and sexually tortured for
some time.

Clearwater Times Monday, August 20, 2012

C L E A R W A T E R

1-800-222-TIPS
Clearwater RCMP Report
SSummer in
i the
th North
N th Th
Thompson
As everyone is probably aware, we are in
the middle of summer in the North Thompson
Valley.
With the season comes an increase of tourist
and people, hoping to visit some of the areas that
make this land unique.
With the increase of visitors, Clearwater
RCMP report an increase of traffic complaints
and traffic related events. Clearwater RCMP
remind the public to keep the speeds down and
to drive safely while out in the sunny conditions.
Falling asleep
On Sunday, Aug. 12, Clearwater RCMP
responded to a single vehicle motor vehicle
incident up Clearwater Valley Road near Second
Canyon.
The driver had fallen asleep at the wheel and
went off road to the left and into the ditch.
Luckily the driver and his passengers were

www.clearwatertimes.com A9

not
n injured in this incident.
Unsafe
passing
U
On Aug. 13, Clearwater RCMP responded to
an
a erratic driver complaint on Highway 5 north
of
o Vavenby.
The complainant stated that a vehicle was
passing
unsafely and nearly forced her off the
p
roadway.
r
Police located and stopped the suspect vehicle.
c
The driver was given a violation ticket for
unsafe pass on left.
The complainant and her husband later gave a
statement to police about the incident.
Sideswipe in Blue River
On Aug. 15, a Clearwater RCMP member
was on patrol in Blue River when a complainant
informed the member that his vehicle had been
sideswiped the previous day.
The complainant had been attempting to turn
left and was watching oncoming traffic.
A tractor-trailer unit attempted to pass the
complainant on the left, realized the complainant
was turning and slammed on his brakes.
The drivers exchanged information before
going their separate ways.
Clearwater RCMP remind everyone that when
an incident happens it is best to report it right
away, so a complete and thorough investigation
can take place.

Pedestrian killed at Brookfield Mall
Times Staff
Clearwater RCMP
are looking for witnesses who saw a fatal
motor vehicle incident
at Brookfield Mall on
Saturday, Aug. 11.
According to the
police, at approximately 11:30 a.m. on
that day, members
of Southeast District
RCMP Traffic Services
and Clearwater RCMP
responded to a report
of a single vehicle
and pedestrian incident in the Brookfield
Shopping Center parking lot.
Upon the arrival of
the police at the scene,
members of the public
were administering
CPR to the pedestrian
who was involved.
Unfortunately,
attempts to revive the
pedestrian were unsuccessful and the pedestrian died from his
injuries.
Investigation has
determined a red 2008
Ford F-350 pickup had
been backing out of
a parking stall in the
parking lot and struck
the pedestrian.
The weather and
parking lot conditions
were ideal at the time
and not considered an
issue with this incident.
The parking lot was
taped off in the area for

a few hours.
The pedestrian, identified as a
78-year-old man from
Clearwater, died at the
scene.
As of presstime last
week RCMP were not
releasing the name of
the man, as next of kin
are still being located.
A Southeast District
RCMP collision reconstructionist attended the

scene, assisting with
the investigation.
The driver of the
pickup truck is notably
shaken over this incident and is cooperating
with the police. RCMP
Victim Services from
Clearwater were
brought in to assist
family members and
individuals involved in
dealing with this truly
tragic and unfortunate

C
C

traffic incident.
At this time alcohol and/or drugs are
not believed to be
contributing factors.
Investigation will continue into the cause.
RCMP request
that anyone who may
have witnessed this
incident please contact
the Clearwater RCMP
Detachment at 250674-2237.

Clearwater Elks' pancake breakfasts
raising funds for worthy causes
Volunteers Adrienne Campbell (l) of Little Fort and Earl Tomyn of
Clearwater help serve up bacon, eggs and pancakes during Clearwater
Elks 15th breakfast day of the season recently. The service club holds the
friendly fundraiser every Saturday morning next to the Farmers Market
in Clearwater. Anyone (not just members) is welcome to volunteer. Call
Marnie Burnell (250-587-6280) for further information.
Photo submitted

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There are hundreds of thousands of ‘apps’, programs for smart phones and
electronic tablets. There is even one available for gambling addicts. Gambling
addiction is a mental health problem, and only 10% of those with a gambling problem
seek help. The app is called Mobile Monitor Your Gambling and Urges (MYGU) and is
downloadable for free from iTunes.

The drug ecstasy is an illegal recreational drug used by some young people. Even
one or two doses of this drug can result in long-term sleep problems. Over 70% of
users report having disturbed sleep because of the drug, being a stimulant, resets the
body’s clock, which often resets at the wrong time. Mood disorders can also occur.

FREEZER
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Many of the drugs we use today originated from nature. It’s always interesting
when a common product like thyme, formulated into a tincture, is found to have
antibacterial effects that may make it useful in treating acne. It’s far from being
available on our shelves for that purpose, but it does show promise.

$1.67

Antibiotics have saved millions of lives since the discovery of penicillin in the 1940s.
In 1900, the tree main causes of death were tuberculosis, pneumonia, and enteritis
(intestinal infections). Antibiotics have reduced the threat of these medical problems
immensely.
When you receive an antibiotic prescription, our pharmacists will ensure you know
how to make it work best for you. We help you understand how it works for you.

Sophie Tetu
demonstrates
her acrobatic
ability by doing
cartwheels in
front of the
Times office
on Wednesday
morning.

Cartwheel kid
Photos by Keith McNeill

Sports working with tourism in our community
Brad Bradbury
Tourism is a significant industry sector for the District of
Clearwater and the
surrounding area. It is
estimated to have generated approximately 123
person years of employment in 2011 and
hosted almost 600,000
visitors last year.
The community has
in excess of 104,000
room nights per year

available through a
combination of hotels,
motels, resorts, campsites, RV parks and bed
and breakfasts. It also
has a large selection of
nature based adventure
activities and opportunities that rank among the
best in the world.
Tourism Wells Gray
has, over the past few
months, conducted a
tourism focused economic impact study
within the District
of Clearwater and

Thompson-Nicola
Regional District Area
A (Wells Gray Country)
to assess the true value
of the industry.
Over the next few
weeks we will be sharing most of our findings
- looking at a different
sector within the tourism industry each week

and presenting the figures in a local context.
One area of tourism
that is often underappreciated is “sport tourism”. The effect it has
on a community and the
revenue it generates are
opportunities for growth
within the region as a
whole.

Hockey, baseball
and golf are key to the
growing sports tourism market within the
region. Here are some
of our findings.
In 2011, hockey
and activities at the
Sportsplex contributed
over $1.3 million to the
local economy, brought

over 3,000 people to
our community and
generated over 2,600
hotel room nights during winter months.
In 2011, baseball
competitions contributed over $400,000 to
the local economy. Over
2,000 people came to
town to either play or

watch baseball.
Golf is also a growing sports tourism sector and in 2011 generated almost $500,000 in
additional community
spending.
- Brad Bradbury is
tourism-marketing manager with Tourism Wells
Gray

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Countdown to Sept. 1 deadline for
Queen's Jubilee medal nominations
OTTAWA - Cathy
McLeod, Member of
Parliament for KamloopsThompson-Cariboo sent out
a reminder recently that the
deadline for nominating an
individual for the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee Medal is
Sept. 1, 2012.
“There has been a tremendous response to the call for
nominations. However, I want
to make sure that everyone
knows that the deadline is

right around the corner and to
get your nominations in now,”
said McLeod.
All constituents may contact Mrs. McLeod’s office to
recommend potential candidates for the medal. To be eligible for this honor, a person
must:
- Be a Canadian citizen
or a permanent resident of
Canada, but need not necessarily reside in Canada;
- Have made a significant

contribution to a particular
province, territory, region or
community within Canada, or
an achievement abroad that
brings credit to Canada; and
- Be alive on Feb. 6, 2012,
the 60th anniversary of Her
Majesty’s accession to the
Throne. The medal can be
awarded posthumously, as
long as the recipient was alive
on that date.
For those wishing to
nominate an individual for

this honour please call the
Kamloops office at 250-8514991 or email cathy.mcleod.
c1@parl.g.ca in order to have
the nomination form sent to
you.
All forms must be submitted by Sept. 1, 2012, in
order for an independent
panel to assess the nominations. The presentation of
the Jubilee Medals will take
place throughout the riding in
October.

Clearwater Times Monday, August 20, 2012

www.clearwatertimes.com A11

Former Clearwater resident receives Jubilee medal
Times Staff

Former Clearwater resident Inspector Peter Haring (l) and his wife June receive a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award medal
Photo submitted
from M.P. Dick Harris. The presentation took place on Aug. 8 in Prince George.

A man who grew up in the Clearwater
area, Peter Haring, was one of 13 residents of Prince George to receive a Queen
Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award medal
during a presentation in that city on Aug. 8.
Haring and his wife, June Haring,
received the medal from Caribou-Prince
George M.P. Dick Harris.
Peter Haring is an inspector with the
RCMP in Prince George while June is an
artist who has occasionally shown her work
in Clearwater as well as in Valemount,
Jasper and Prince George (see her work at
www.mountainlegacies.blogspot.ca).
The couple was recognized for individual
leadership in making significant contributions to neighbor, to community and to society at large.
June and Peter have cared for and fostered for 55 children over the last 23 years.
The children they have cared for have had
fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, physical
disabilities, cerebral palsy, brain cysts and
absent right hemisphere, burns, ADHD,
transmitted venereal diseases, skin disorders,
malnutrition, cocaine addition and physical
injuries.
The couple works as a team providing
nurturing environment and advocating for
children in their care. They constantly work
in their community with professionals and
give children the very best care possible.

Prevent forest fires ... with your smartphone

Responsive,
Reliable,
Professional

University of British
Columbia
A smart-phone app that prevents forest fires by identifying
hazardous areas and that was
developed by researchers at the
University of British Columbia
is getting tested in the BC
Okanagan this summer.
Wildfires are a yearly threat in
the region. The 2003 Okanagan
Mountain fire destroyed 25,000
ha of forest and 239 homes, and
in July 2009, two fires in West
Kelowna forced 12,500 residents
out of their homes and destroyed
three properties.
Designed by Faculty of
Forestry PhD student Colin
Ferster and professor Nicholas
Coops, the app is designed for
professionals and members of the
public, such as homeowners.
Starting at the top of the trees
and working down to the forest
floor, the app contains images
of potential fire hazards such as
fallen wood, brush, or a thick
carpet of needles on the forest
floor. Once identified, users take
pictures and upload the images,
additional information and global
positioning system (GPS) coordinates to a database.
“One of the most effective
ways to reduce wildfire hazard is
to reduce the amount of fuel that
is available to burn,” said Ferster.
“By putting this tool in hands

Bonded, Insured & Licensed

UBC’s smartphone app allows a user to collect data and photos of
suspected forest fire hazards and measure them using the principles
of remote sensing. Photo submitted
of many people, we can collect
more information about the current status of the forest, and at
the same time increase awareness
and cooperation, which will help
reduce the threat of wildfire in
the community.”
With consistent and comparable measurements at their disposal, forest managers can make

timely decisions on how to best
minimize fire hazard.
A field trial of the app is
currently underway at UBC’s
Okanagan campus in Kelowna.
To find out more about the project and to volunteer please visit:
http://irsslab.forestry.ubc.ca/
Research/MobileRemoteSensing.
aspx

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since 1944

A12 www.clearwatertimes.com

Monday, August 20, 2012 Clearwater Times

Sports
Counselor
available
at CSS in
August

Bike challenge raising funds for hospice

Times Staff

Volunteers have starting working in Clearwater, Barriere
and Little Fort to collect guesses for the fourth annual
Hospice Cup bike challenge, according to Drake Smith of
the North Thompson Hospice House Society.
Funds raised by the bike challenge will go towards
building a hospice for the North Thompson Valley, likely to
be located in Little Fort.
This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bike challenge will be held on Sunday, Sept.
9. One team of riders will leave from the funeral home in
Barriere at 1 p.m. while another will start from Clearwaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
funeral home at the same time. The person who best guesses where the teams meet will win a prize.
Cost per guess is $2, says Smith. All distances are measured from Barriere. The volunteers working in Clearwater,
Barriere and Little Fort each have slightly different sign-up
sheets so there will be no overlap of guesses.

Keith McNeill

Clearwater
Secondary School
counselor Marie
Giesbrecht will be
available at the school
for parents and students
who want to change
their courses or adjust
their timetables.
Times will be Aug.
27 and 28, 9 a.m. - 2
p.m. and Aug. 31, 1 - 3
p.m.
Those interested can
just show up during the
times indicated or, better yet, call the school
(250-674-3328) to
make an appointment.